Ask Aaron Q&A: Should you ever have a days rest from shaving to give the skin time to recover?
“Should you ever have a days rest from shaving to give the skin time to recover, from being over shaved?” asks David Parker, from the UK.
AARON SAYS
“Mr. Parker, Thank you for your question! In short, yes! If your skin is burned and irritated from an overly aggressive or bad shave experience I certainly recommend giving it time to rest, regenerate and heal. I don’t think it’s necessary to rest the skin if you are not experiencing problems, but certainly do give it some time to rest if you are experiencing discomfort.
Smooth Shaving! Aaron”
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Ask Aaron Q&A: Any tips you could give about shaving the neck and lower neck area?
“Aaron, Any tips you could give be about shaving the neck and lower neck area? Even after plenty of wetting and preparation, I still get cut. I use Proraso pre and Proraso shaving cream. I use feather blades,a Merkur 38C Barberpole and a Simpsons Chubby shaving brush,” asks David Robin, from the UK.
AARON SAYS
“Mr. Robin, The next toughest area for men to shave after the mustache area is the lower neck and Adam’s Apple area. Since you have good products and a good preparation routine (because good prep is KEY!) try a couple of the following things. Pay special attention to your blade angle, try locking you wrist and moving you arm from the elbow or shoulder. If you aren’t sure of the direction of hair growth, let the hair down in this area grow out for a couple of days. (Over the weekend is great if you don’t work weekends.) Hair growth patterns can change drastically in a short area and going against the grain at the wrong time can cause cuts and skipping. Also try stretching the skin to shift the skin into a flatter surface area.
Smooth Shaving! Aaron”
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Ask Aaron Q&A: Can you recommend a razor/blade/cream combo that is geared for leg shaving?
“While I realize all of the virtues of wet shaving my wife has know taken an interest and began experimenting with my kit. Can you recommend a razor/blade combo and cream that she can use that may be more geared for leg shaving?” asks Everett Petronick, from the USA.
AARON SAYS
“Mr Petronick, You are a very lucky man having your wife come on board with you! Many of the products are the same but she might enjoy a floral or rose scented shaving cream to use. A product I do think would be an advantage to your wife would be a long handled safety razor such as the “barberpole” Merkur 38c and 23c razors, the Parker 52 and 96 models, and the vintage Lady Gillette which can be found in second hand shops, and online auction sites sometimes in “New Old Stock or NOS” condition. May you and your wife enjoy,
Smooth Shaving! Aaron”
Do you have any burning questions you would like ask our wet shaving expert Aaron Wolfenbarger? CLICK HERE TO ASK AARON YOUR QUESTION
Ask Aaron Q&A: My shaving brush has stopped producing a great lather - Any suggestions?
“Dear Aaron, Please help me. I have two fine badger shaving brushes (one is from Shavemac). They were excellent. A few months ago no lather at all. The only different thing I started doing was to clean them with very hot water. One time I used a kind of borax powder to clean them. What might have happened? I have tried all the best shaving with them. After a very poor lather, the second time the lather simply vanishes away. Is there a way of correcting this sitruation?” asks J Alcantara, from Brazil.
AARON SAYS
“Mr. Alcantara
I am sorry to hear you are having trouble with your brushes! My philosophy in brush care is to treat your badger brush the same as you would treat your own hair. Assuming you’ve not moved into an area with hard water, changed products, or technique my guess is that the borax treatment and extremely hot water has damaged the hair. However I think you can do some things to rescue your brushes. Wash them with shampoo, just as you would your own hair. Next use some good quality strengthening hair conditioner. Be sure to work the conditioner into the hairs of the brush well and leave the brush to set for a few minutes before rinsing it out. You might have to repeat this process a few times, but hopefully this will help to restore your brushes back to their normal performance!
Smooth Shaving! Aaron”
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Bluebeards Revenge Post-Shave Balm & Scimitar Razor Reviews
My New Year started off beautifully. I woke up suddenly around 9am, entangled with my loved one, and had the startling and somewhat shocking revelation that I was completely hangover-free. I hopped out of bed, had a cup of coffee and some toast, and set about deciding what my first shave of 2011 should look like.
Nick from The Shaving Shack had recently sent me a box containing the Bluebeards Revenge Scimitar double-edged razor and a tub of the Bluebeards Revenge post-shave balm. This, then, was the way to go. I knew a review needed to be written, a beard needed to be shaved, and… Well, it was time to get moving.
My initial impression of the razor was that it was similar in nature to most other higher-end modern razors (see Merkur as a fine example). It displays the Jolly Rodger skull-and-crossbones proudly on the top piece, echoing the “Bluebeard” pirate theme that runs throughout their product line. The fit and finish were absolutely perfect, and the heft and balance of the razor definitely felt great. Perhaps my only complaint - out of the box - was that the grip was a touch slick.
After a hot shower, I popped a fresh Japanese Feather blade in, lathered up with Truefitt & Hill’s Lavender cream (which has quickly become my standard go-to luxury shave cream) and set to work. The razor was just slightly more aggressive in feel than my trusty vintage Gillette Superspeed. I’d put it close to setting 4 or 5 on the Gillette Fatboy adjustable, though very smooth and forgiving at the same time. It made short work of my beard and left me feeling quite happy with the results in 3 standard passes.
I finished up with a thorough rinse and a shot of witch hazel, and then opened up the tub of balm. The consistency was quite thick, so I popped a finger in, grabbed a dollop, and rubbed it in quickly. The first thing I noticed about the balm was that it burned as though it was an aftershave splash, which of course screams “alcohol!” to me. I’m not normally a huge fan of alcohol in my balms - if I want it, I’ll use a splash. In this case, however, it works. I was a little surprised, to be honest, just how WELL it worked. The balm absorbed into the skin, leaving it feeling fresh and moisturized without even a hint of oil or shine. The scent of the balm was pleasant as well, a nice classic barbershop style, though it lingers much too long for my taste.
The Bluebeards Revenge offers a complete shaving range - Image by Shaving101.com
I continued to use the two items every day until this morning, and the only change in my technique has been a switch to Art of Shaving’s excellent lemon shave cream. The razor has completely knocked every other double-edge out of rotation. My Superspeed, Fat Boy, the uber-1970′s Krona, even my Merkur slant - they’re all sitting unused in my medicine cabinet. I’ve not touched the other shave balms I’ve accumulated over the last few years at all lately, and even with daily use for over a month I’m still not even 1/4 of my way through the tub of aftershave balm.
My only suggestion for a change is that Bluebeard should release a completely unscented version of the shave balm. Otherwise, I’m extremely impressed with both products and would heavily recommend them to anyone entering the wetshaving world.
Ask Aaron Q&A: Do you have any tips on how to get as close a shave as possible?
“Do you have any tips on how to get as close a shave as possible?” asks Simon Buckland.
AARON SAYS:
“Use quality products that give a smooth, slick shave. If you have not already done so switch to using a safety razor. A safety razor allows you to control the angle of the blade giving you as close a shave as you want. Shave in three passes; first going with the direction of hair growth, the next going across, and the last going against the direction of hair growth. This will give you the closest shave for an incredibly smooth feeling.”
Do you have any burning questions you would like ask our wet shaving expert Aaron Wolfenbarger? CLICK HERE TO ASK AARON YOUR QUESTION
Celebs ditch laser hair removal in favour of a razor, reports Daily Mail
Want to know the hottest beauty secret currently sweeping Hollywood? Well according to an article in the Daily Mail today, increasing numbers of actresses are giving up laser hair removal and threading - and picking up their boyfriend’s razor instead.
“Shaving rids the face of that fine fuzz that laser hair removal can’t pick up,” says Kate Somerville, a facialist for some of Hollywood’s most famous names told the British newspaper.
But the Daily Mail claims it’s not a new trick. Apparently, screen sirens such as Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor shaved their faces for exfoliated, hair-free skin.
But what about stubble? – Asks the newspaper
“It doesn’t grow back thicker or darker,” Kate told them. “That’s an old wives’ tale. Hair growth changes because of hormonal fluctuations.”
The paper even asked London’s A-list cosmetic dermatologist Dr Michael Prager his opinion.
“The shaved area of a man’s skin is younger-looking than the rest of his face because of the constant exfoliation, which stimulates collagen,” he said. “Plus, a fuzz-free face reflects the light.”
So there you have it ladies, the key to a smooth, hair free face is not expensive laser treatment, its investing a poultry sum of £19.99 in a pink Bluebeards Revenge Mach 3 Razor (yes that’s right Pink).
You could even team this with a pink Bluebeards Revenge Pure Badger Shaving Brush and a tub of The Bluebeards Revenge Shaving Cream.
Back in late 2010, we revealed to the world that over 2,000 women had snapped up the hair-delaying shaving cream since its summer launch.
Nick Gibbens, marketing manager at The Shaving Shack, said in November 2010: ”Despite the product being heavily aimed at men with heavy beard growths, we started noticing a quarter of customers buying were women. We presumed at first they were buying for their husbands, but the trend continued and is now accounting for half our sales.
“We have conducted some research into this, and discovered that women have seen their husbands use it, or seen the Decelerine coverage, and realised that if they use it themselves, they can reduce the hair on their bodies by 40% over 60 days too. So, effectively, the ‘World’s Manliest Shaving Product’ has been hijacked by women to reduce the hair growth on their legs, underarms and bikini line!“
This trend has continued into 2011, and we have even seen a new sales spike in the last 10 days.
Shaving Shack products shortlisted in coveted About.com awards
Three products stocked by The Shaving Shack have been shortlisted in the coveted About.com Readers’ Choice Awards 2011.
The Merkur Heavy Duty Classic has been nominated in the best razor category, while The Bluebeards Revenge shaving cream has made the final four in the best shave cream category.
Another Bluebeards Revenge product, the post shave balm, is shortlisted in the best after-shave product category.
Nick Gibbens, Marketing & PR manger for The Shaving Shack, said: “This is fantastic news. We are delighted that three of our products have been nominated for such prestigious awards.”
You can vote for each at http://menshair.about.com/library/bl-voting.htm. The winners will be announced on Tuesday 15 March.
About.com, which is owned by The New York Times Company, offers information and solutions in the form of 2.8 million handcrafted, original articles – all created by nearly 800 guides across 23 channels.
Shaving101′s Mike Sandoval reviews Bluebeards Revenge Post Shave Balm
American wet shaving legend Mike Sandoval has described The Bluebeards Revenge post shave balm as “smooth and creamy”.
The guru, who has previously described The Bluebeards Revenge shaving cream as one of the best he has ever tried, is also a massive fan of the Bluebeards beard reducing balm.
Specially formulated with Witch Hazel and Aloe Vera to nourish the skin after shaving, the balm contains Decelerine, which is made from a mixture of active ingredients that delay hair growth, reducing the frequency of shaving and depilation and at the same time providing a recovering effect on the skin.
The Bluebeards Revenge Post Shave Balm
”The balm itself is a bit different from most other traditional aftershave balms that wet shavers are familiar with using,” said Mike, who runs the awesome shaving blog Shaving101.com.
“The consistency of the balm is more like a smooth cream rather than a runny lotion or liquid gel that is commonly seen from other manufacturers. While most aftershave balms pour from the bottle or have a pump dispenser, this one is dense enough that you can simply scoop your desired amount of product for application using your fingers.”
Mike then went on to praise the soothing qualities of the post shave balm.
“The smooth and creamy texture of the product allows it to spread and absorb into the skin very easily and instantly soothes any irritation leaving the skin feeling cooled and refreshed.
Mike has now reviewed the Bluebeards cream, balm and badger brush - Photo by Mike Sandoval
”Despite the creamier texture of the balm, it does not leave the skin feeling greasy at all. After the balm dries down, the skin feels perfectly moisturized and ready to face the day.”
Mike concluded his review of the post shave balm by saying: “The smooth and creamy texture of this aftershave balm makes it a welcome addition to a market flooded with runny and greasy balms that clog pores and leave the skin feeling oily. A little of this balm goes a long way and 100 ml / 3.4 oz jar will easily last two or more months of daily use.”
You can read the full Shaving101 review by clicking here. And we highly recommend looking around this website as it offers some really good articles on the art of wet shaving.
Mike also reviewed our ‘Corsair’ Super Badger Shaving Brush last month.
Ask Aaron Q&A: What is the ideal shaving routine?
“Can you describe the ideal shaving routine, detailing what products to use and how to use them?” asks James Merchant.
AARON SAYS:
“The ideals shave can be boiled down to three simple steps: Prepare. Shave. Protect. To Prepare: take a shower, then wash with a mild face wash or scrub; preferably one for men or for your skin type. To Shave: lather up using a good quality shaving cream such as the Bluebeard’s Revenge, or another fine shaving cream preferably with a brush. A good quality razor with good sharp blade, whether a safety razor or cartridge razor, is ideal to shave with. Shave first in the direction of hair growth, then across, then against. To Protect: rinse all the remaining cream off the face, then rinse with cold water, closing the pores. Then apply a good quality post-shave balm, skin food, or toner to refresh and hydrate the skin.”
Do you have any burning questions you would like ask our wet shaving expert Aaron Wolfenbarger? CLICK HERE TO ASK AARON YOUR QUESTION
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